Penn State: Graham Spanier Placed on Leave, Effective Immediately

Penn State officials responded to Attorney General Linda Kelly's announcement on Thursday that new charges were brought against former administrators Tim Curley and Gary Schultz and that former Penn State President Graham Spanier was also being charged, for the first time.

Curley, Schultz and Spanier are each charged with perjury, endangering the welfare of children, failure to report, criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice. They are expected to be arraigned at 2 p.m. in Harrisburg on Friday.

In the statement release around 1 p.m. on Thursday, Penn State officials said Graham Spanier, who had been on sabbatical as he remained a tenured member of the faculty despite stepping down in November 2011, would be placed on administrative leave "effective immediately."

Penn State's response:

"Penn State officials today learned of the charges announced at a press conference held by Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly against former university president Graham Spanier, and of additional charges brought against former Athletic Director Tim Curley and former university administrator Gary Schultz, in relation to the Jerry Sandusky case. According to the Attorney General, all three men are now charged with conspiracy; obstruction of justice; endangering the welfare of children; failure to report a crime; and perjury.

"Spanier was removed as president of the University on Nov. 9, 2011. After his removal, he continued to serve as a tenured professor at Penn State, though he has been on sabbatical leave. In light of the charges brought against him, Spanier will be placed on leave, effective immediately.

"After charges were filed last November, Schultz returned to retirement and Curley was placed on administrative leave. Curley was on a fixed-term contract and has recently been given notice that his contract will not be renewed when it expires on June 30, 2013.

"University officials will not comment further out of respect for the legal process."